Volvo XC60 review

Driving position

The Volvo XC60 offers you all the traits of a typical SUV, including that all-important high-up driving position, but there’s a decent amount of flexibility in this.

For example, you can set the seat reasonably lower (not as low as others , like the BMW X3), and there’s plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel both up and down, and in and out.

Volvo’s comfort seats are standard across the entire range of trim levels, and they look as premium as they should. There’s even a Scandinavian flag sewn into the sides to remind you of the car’s roots.

We tested the mid-spec Plus trim, with additional power adjustments for the lumbar and thigh support.

If anything, the lumbar support might’ve felt a bit intrusive at the start, but we quickly got used to it.

Compared with the pre-facelift model, on sale between 2017 and 2025, the updated XC60 is even quieter in the cabin. Optional laminated windows improve refinement further.

Tech and features

Volvo XC60 trims

– Core

– Plus

– Plus Pro

– Ultra

With a quick glance, you might think nothing has changed compared with the pre-facelift model. And that’s a good thing – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Instead, Volvo has improved things under the hood, like giving the touchscreen infotainment system a new processor that’s twice as fast.

The screen also looks much better. It’s got a higher pixel density for a more high-definition look.

Volvo’s known for its strong infotainment performance thanks to the Google fundamentals, like built-in Google Maps and Google’s voice assistant (which you can use for car controls like changing the climate control).

Although Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, it’s a real shame that we had to plug our phone in to get CarPlay. In a premium SUV like this, it should really be wireless .

As well as the 11.2-inch portrait touchscreen on the dash, there’s also a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display in the centre. You can choose between a blank display or to have maps shown behind the wheel, freeing up the main screen for other purposes like media.

All models come with adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, keyless entry, wireless phone charging and heated front seats.

We would really recommend upgrading to mid-spec Plus, if you can. It adds a mighty impressive 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system (possibly one of the best we’ve tried), a heated steering wheel, a heated windscreen, a 360-degree parking camera and heated rear seats.

Pro Plus adds some extras like active bending headlights (perfect for twisting country roads at night) and electric adjustment for the front seats’ lateral support.

Call us demanding, but the automatic high beams fitted in our test car let the XC60 down a bit. At this end of the market, we’d expect fully adaptive high beams that maintain maximum light without blinding oncoming cars.

Ultra becomes expensive, adding a head-up display, air suspension, an opening panoramic sunroof and a Bowers & Wilkins sound system, but we think middle of the range represents the best value.

Engines and power

Volvo XC60 performance stats

– Power: 250hp, 350hp or 455hp

– 0-62mph: 4.9 to 6.9 seconds

– Top speed: 112mph

– Driven wheels: All-wheel drive

First thing’s first, there’s no such thing as a slow XC60, with 0-62mph covered in 6.9 seconds or under.

The other point worth covering is that all engines are 2.0-litre petrol units, either with mild hybrid assistance (B5) or a full plug-in hybrid powertrain (T6 and T8).

We spent a week living with the XC60 T6, the slower of the plug-in hybrids, with a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds.

Both PHEVs have a 145hp electric motor, so it’s more than capable of building up motorways speeds without engaging the engine.

In Power mode, the T6 might even feel quicker than the 0-62mph test time indicates, so you’re guaranteed not to be left wanting more.

But up Volvo’s sleeve is a really big card – one-pedal driving. Whether in hybrid, electric or engine-only mode, you can come to a complete stop with regenerative braking, absolutely maximising every litre of fuel.

If only every PHEV had this.

Let us remind you that this adds to the driving experience (if you like one-pedal driving), but it doesn’t mean the XC60 PHEV is the most efficient out there. More on that below…

Handling and ride comfort

We’d say the XC60 edges more on the comfort side when it comes to ride quality, but it’s still firm enough to take it into a corner or two if you want to. It does lean a bit, though, but that’s typical of most SUVs.

The biggest thing you’ll notice is just how quiet the XC60 is at any speed, with very little wind noise. There’s a bit of tyre noise at higher speeds, but you can still hold a conversation without shouting.

Ask more of the engine and it revs into life with a sporty sound – we can’t be sure if it’s fully natural or if there’s some artificial sound pumped into the cabin (as you get in many other models, including the BMW X3), but we’re all for it.

Boot space

Volvo XC60 boot space

– Boot space: 468-483 litres

– Inc. Rear seats folded: 1,528-1,543 litres

The precise volume of your boot depends on whether you go for a mild hybrid (483 litres) or a plug-in hybrid (468 litres), but there’s genuinely not a lot in it.

Volvo also quotes capacity up to the roofline if you need to cram the car, but you won’t be able to see out of the rear window. It’s 598/613 litres.

It’s substantially less than you get in the petrol/diesel GLC (620 litres), but similar to what you get in the PHEV version (470 litres for PHEV).

The story is the same with the BMW X3 (570 litres/460 litres PHEV) and Audi Q5 (520 litres/438 litres PHEV).

All models also come with a gesture-controlled boot lid, so if your hands are full, you can open it by waving your foot under the boot.

Rear seats

Rear-seat space is great for the two outer occupants, who sit in seats that are just as comfortable as the front ones.

The middle seat is narrower and has a slightly higher base, and ordinarily that would be fine.

The XC60 loses some points for the huge hump in the floor, practicality eliminating any foot space for the middle-seat passenger.

For a family of four who only occasionally carries five, it’s perfectly acceptable.

Storage solutions

Apparently, the updated cabin adds additional storage areas, but there’s nothing to write home about.

Slightly redesigned cupholders leave room for two regular-sized drinks and a smaller can in the centre, and they’re covered by a really nice sliding cover – natural driftwood in our Plus model.

The glovebox is a good size, and there’s a small storage area under the front armrest with two USB-C ports.

There are another two USB-C ports in the back, too.

Volvo XC60 dimensions:

– Height: 1,660-1,656mm

– Width: 2,117mm (including mirrors)

– Length: 4,708mm

– Gross weight: 1,835-2,093kg

Safety

Volvo has become synonymous with safety, which is why all of its models are backed with five-star Euro NCAP ratings.

Though it was tested in 2017, the facelifted model is also covered by the rating, which has truly high scores across all of the testing categories including a near-perfect 98% mark on occupant safety.

The cabin is virtually covered in airbags, including full-length side ‘curtains’.

You can also pick between the usual beeping speed limit warning or a non-invasive speed limiter that, under light throttle, prevents you from exceeding the speed limit. All you have to do it press the accelerator a touch more to bypass it.

Fuel economy

Fuel economy isn’t a strong point of the XC60, especially now that diesel engines are no more.

The B5 mild hybrid claims 37.7mpg. We haven’t tested that to prove or disprove it.

The T6 and T8 use an 18.8kWh battery for a 50-mile electric-only range.

We took the XC60 T6 on a 150-mile motorway trip with a flat battery and got 31.3mpg, so be prepared for lower-than-expected running costs.

At least the PHEV models allow you to travel around town for a lot cheaper (if you have access to home charging and an off-peak rate).

Apart from the different drive modes, like EV-only, hybrid and petrol-only, you can also choose to use the battery, maintain the charge level or top it up from the petrol engine on the go.

This is really good for, say, topping the battery up on the motorway when the petrol engine is on anyway. Then you can finish your trip on slower roads on efficient electric power.

3.8kW charging is on the disappointing side when other plug-in SUVs offer 7kW or even 11kW charging. It means a full charge will take five hours.

Bizarrely, there is 11kW charging for certain public chargers, reducing this to three hours, so 7kW would certainly be expected.

There’s no DC rapid charging, as you get in the Range Rover Evoque PHEV.

Reliability

Besides safety, Volvo is known for its dependability, and the XC60 scores particularly highly.

The warranty is the industry-standard three-year/60,000-mile cover, but we wouldn’t anticipate any major problems for longer-term ownership.